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Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has acquired road graders and vehicles through savings of funds allocated to it by the Kenya Roads Board (KRB). The three motor graders and seven supervision vehicles will enhance KWS internal capacity to maintain its road network in parks and reserves.
Speaking during flagging off of the graders and vehicles at KWS headquarters, Director General, KWS Brig. (Rtd) John Waweru said “KWS appreciates the support we have continued to receive from KRB towards maintenance of not only the major access roads leading to our parks but also the tourist circuits within national parks and reserves.
Brig. (Rtd) Waweru appreciated the enhancement of internal technical capacity through recruitment and posting to KWS by KRB of graduate Engineers who will join KWS engineers in maintaining and extending the current road network. KWS is responsible for over 10,000km of road network, out of which 2,450Km are regularly maintained under Kenya Roads Board funding, leaving 7,550Km to be maintained through internal capacity.
The partnership between KRB and KWS dates back to the financial year 2003/2004 when KWS received the first tranche of Sh. 60 Million, which has gradually grown to the present allocation of Sh. 651Million this Financial Year. This has seen the length of KWS road network under maintenance through the funding grow from approximately 904 Km to the current network of 2450 Km.
Kenya Roads Board Director General Mr. Rashid Mohamed in a speech on his behalf by Engineer Nyaguti said KRB is committed to supporting the various roads agencies through its stipulated mandate of overseeing the road network in Kenya. The Board allocates one per cent of the Road maintenance Levy Fund to KWS in respect of road maintenance in national parks and reserves.
Said the Director General “In this financial year 2021/2022, KWS has been allocated Sh651,338,776 for maintenance of 2,448 kilometres of road network representing 53 per cent coverage of the entire KWS network. I am confident the funds will go a long way in maintaining and rehabilitating the road network of national parks,"
